The SDC 2012 Project in a nutshell

SummaryThe project “Developing a quality postal service in the digital age - Listening sessions: selection of national good practices” is funded by the European Commission Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion DG and is a follow-up to the project “Social partners preparing for change” conducted by the SDC in 2010-2011 which enabled the Committee to get a broad overview of the social evolutions in the sector across the European Union.

Within the context of deep transformation of the postal sector, the project “Developing a quality postal service in the digital age” aims at having a closer analysis on how this transformation impacts the postal operators’ work organization and the sector’s environment. The logic of the project is to analyze in-depth a few significant initiatives initiated by NPOs and Trade Unions through a selective and thorough approach on each topicin order to elaborate some common lessons for all. By having a closer look at and exchanging on the opportunities and limits of exemplary practices implemented by companies, solutions can be analysed together. More precisely, the project will cover the topics of work organization in retail, parcels and sorting as well as innovative utilization of networks and employability, social regulation and Universal Service.

There will be 6 listening sessions from April to October 2013 on the topics of work organization in retail, parcels and sorting as well as innovative utilization of networks and employability, social regulation and universal service with 2-3 countries invited each time and a final conference more widely open to all European social partners at the end of 2013.

Expected ResultsThe listening sessions of the Project will offer the opportunity to the European social partners to have an in-depth understanding of the initiatives developed at national level and to learn from the experiences of other countries. The final report and results of the project will contain the presented case studies as well as the main lessons learnt which will be worked out by the working group members in cooperation with the country representatives who take part in the listening sessions.

The project will contribute to fulfil the following objectives:

Be a lever for supporting a better implementation of the postal directive as market opening will have occurred in all current EU member states by 1st January 2013. Due to the timing of the project, the context of full market opening will be an integral part of the debates.

Reflect on the ways in which the right balance can be found between increased efficiency and adaptability of the work organisation and quality of employment as underlined in the EU 2020 strategy.

Promote the objectives of the European Commission's Communication on The European social dialogue, a force for innovation and change by having a particular focus on the potential role of social partners in the innovation and change management process